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Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50II

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD90NikonZ50II
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2008November 2024
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRMirrorless
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm23.5 × 15.7 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP20.9 MP
Largest image4288 × 28485568 × 3712
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200100–51200
Sensor detail12.9 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data21.51 million total pixels; Japanese exact specification gives 20.88 million effective, rounded to 20.9 on Nikon UK. Image-dust-off reference data requires NX Studio.
Image formatsNEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Cameralabs confirms 12-bit compressed RAW14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or high-efficiency compression; JPEG and HEIF; RAW plus JPEG or HEIF
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISOStandard still-image ISO 100–51200, expandable to equivalent ISO 204800; HLG starts at ISO 400. Movie ISO 100–25600, with N-Log-specific limits.
Image processorEXPEEDEXPEED 7
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon Z mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst4.5 fps30 fps
Lens detailDX angle of view approximately 1.5× FX focal length; AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses permit manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupportedNIKKOR Z FX and DX lenses; FX lenses have a DX field-of-view crop. F-mount NIKKOR lenses require an adapter and retain model-dependent restrictions.
AutofocusMulti-CAM 1000 phase detection, 11 points including one cross-type; single, dynamic, auto-area and 3D tracking. Live view uses contrast detection with face-priority, wide and normal areasHybrid phase/contrast detection; 209 single-point or 231 auto-area positions, nine subject types, 3D tracking and AF-A. Nikon's −9 EV sensitivity uses AF-S, ISO 100, an f/1.2 lens and 20°C.
Shutter1/4000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second; tested to 100000 releasesMechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic; 1/4000 to 30 seconds plus Bulb/Time, extendable to 900 seconds in manual mode. Flash sync up to 1/250 second with reduced guide number above 1/200; Auto FP supported.
Burst detailHigh-speed continuous approximately 4.5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fpsExtended continuous shooting approximately 11 fps, or 15 fps silent; ordinary high approximately 5.6 fps, rising to 9.7 fps silent without RAW. C15/C30 high-speed capture with pre-release capture reaches 30 fps for JPEGs, not RAW.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical stabilisation depends on a VR lens. Electronic video VR adds a crop.
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 17 at ISO 200 in metres; commander for two remote groups; ISO 518 hot shoeManual pop-up flash, guide number approximately 7 at ISO 100 in metres; i-TTL and ISO 518 accessory shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB metering; ±5 EV compensationAuto, P/S/A/M and scene modes; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps3840 × 2160 at 60 fps
Video detailMotion-JPEG AVI at 24 fps; 720p limited to approximately five minutes, 640 × 424 and 320 × 216 to approximately 20 minutes; autofocus unavailable during recordingUHD 3840 × 2160 up to 60p, with additional crop at 50/60p; full-width DX UHD up to 30p is oversampled from 5.6K. Full HD up to 120p; H.265 8/10-bit and H.264, N-Log and HLG, waveform, timecode, tally lamp, Product Review mode and Full HD Hi-Res Zoom. Maker recording limit 125 minutes, subject to conditions; no internal RAW video listed.
AudioMonaural movie soundBuilt-in stereo microphones; PCM 48 kHz/24-bit for MOV or AAC 48 kHz/16-bit for MP4; external microphone and headphone monitoring
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalElectronic
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots920,0001,040,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixelsVari-angle TFT, approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism, approximately 96% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid0.39-inch XGA OLED, approximately 2.36 million dots, 100% coverage, 1.02× magnification and 19.5 mm eyepoint; maker maximum brightness claim 1000 cd/m²
Connections and design
Wi-Fi–Yes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)850 photographs250 photographs
Body weight620 g495 g
Release detailNikon's original US announcement specifies September 2008 availability; Nikon Japan records 19 September there. Main retains the month without assigning the Japanese day to every regionAnnounced in November 2024; Nikon US states availability in late November 2024. Month precision is retained because an exact first UK retail day is unconfirmed.
Recording mediaSD and SDHC cardsSingle SD/SDHC/SDXC slot supporting UHS-II, in the battery compartment
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue AV output, HDMI mini Type C and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 or GP-1USB-C SuperSpeed USB; Micro HDMI Type D; 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output, the latter also supports MC-DC3 remote release
Wireless connections–Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0; SnapBridge and Nikon Imaging Cloud
Battery life detailEN-EL3e; approximately 850 CIPA photographs with the 18–105mm VR lens and flash in half the exposures; optional MB-D80 gripEN-EL25a; CIPA approximately 250 monitor shots with power saving enabled or 230 without; EVF 240 with power saving or 220 without. Tested with NIKKOR Z DX 16–50mm f/3.5–6.3 VR; movie battery-life claim 55 minutes. EN-EL25 compatibility gives shorter battery life; Photography Blog's 300-shot EN-EL25 narrative is not the current maker claim.
ChargingExternal MH-18a charger; optional EH-5a AC adapterUSB charging and power with compatible equipment; optional EH-8P adapter
DimensionsApproximately 132 × 103 × 77 mmApproximately 127 × 96.8 × 66.5 mm
Weight detailApproximately 620 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 495 g body only or 550 g including battery/card, excluding body cap
In the boxEN-EL3e battery, MH-18a charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-21 eyecup, UC-E4 USB cable, EG-D2 AV cable, AN-DC1 strap, BM-10 monitor cover, body and shoe caps; regional contents may differEN-EL25a battery, AN-DC29 strap, USB-C cable and BF-N1 body cap

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